Is Your ID Ready for Takeoff? Check Your Star Power Before May 2025!

Take a moment and check your driver’s license. If it has the star in the upper right hand corner, you can pass on this newsletter and congratulate yourself for having gotten the Real ID. But if there’s no star, then read on.

                The star is the Real ID symbol, and it’s displayed a little differently in each state. (Wisconsin and Minnesota have the star inside a circle; California’s has its inside a bear, the state’s symbol.) Many of us have had them on our driver’s licenses (or state-issued ID cards) for years. The Real ID Act was made law in 2005, mandating that people without the star would be prohibited from flying domestically or entering certain federal facilities. But Congress gave everyone plenty of time to get it done, with the law setting a 2020 deadline for compliance. That was pushed back to 2025, thanks to backlogs at state motor vehicle departments and, of course, Covid.

                Well, 2025 is here, and if you don’t have a Real ID yet, now is the time to get one.

                The origin of the law goes back to the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01. The commission that investigated the attacks recommended that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” The 2005 law established minimum security standards for states to use when issuing a Real ID card to a person. Also, certain federal agencies were prohibited from accepting IDs that were issued by states which did not meet the standards.

                It sounds a lot more complicated than it really is. (Imagine that.) Every driver’s license expires after a certain period of time. In Wisconsin, it’s typically about eight years. We all know the drill: go to the local DMV office, maybe fill out a form and pay a small fee, and our new license is issued, usually sent through the mail. The new license may have a different style than its predecessor. We probably had a new photo taken for it, or change of address. New security features could be added. And, hopefully, we made sure it has that Real ID star in the proper corner (upper right in every state).

                But getting the Real ID hasn’t been a requirement, necessarily, just a pretty good idea. Now, the calendar has turned to 2025, and May 7 is just about four months away. That’s the date the law takes effect nationwide. Any traveler aged 18 or older who doesn’t have another TSA-approved form of identification, such as a passport, must have a Real ID-compliant identification card or driver’s license. If you don’t have one and try to go through security at the airport, you’ll be turned away, no matter where you’d been planning to go, or how much you’ve already paid for your flight and other expenses, such as a cruise.

                Maybe you don’t want to take the time to get your license renewed, and Real ID certified, until your birthday, when the current card expires, and the big day is sometime after May 7. Okay, but if you plan to fly before your birthday, you’ll need one of the TSA-approved substitutes, such as a valid passport, from the U.S. or another country. Other documents on that list include a DHS trusted traveler card, such as Global Entry; a Department of Defense ID for military personnel and their dependents; a border crossing card, or others that are listed on the DHS website, www.dhs.gov.

                If you don’t have your Real ID yet but would like to get one, check with your local DMV office for a list of documents you’ll need. At a minimum, you’ll need to provide documentation with your full legal name and date of birth, your Social Security number, and proof of current address. Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation has a link prominently displayed on its website, www.wisconsindot.gov, that will even allow you to schedule your visit to the nearest field office. Once you’ve done all that, it will take up to 2 weeks for the new card to arrive in your mail.

                So, if you don’t have one and you plan to fly anytime on or after May 7, it’s time to git ‘er done, as Larry the Cable Guy says. Need help with your travel documents? We’re here to make sure you have everything you need before you head to the airport. Give us a call!

Sue Tindell